Pictured: “A Seat at the Farmer’s Table” by NOMA|nw at SDF’25, photo by Brad Curran

Engage with Black Designers Shaping Our Community

February is Black History Month, an opportunity to examine allyship and amplify the work of black architects, designers, and creatives in the community.

NOMA|nw

NOMA|nw advocates for greater cultural diversity and equity within the design industry. The NW Chapter provides a platform where BIPOC AEC professionals and Allies can work together to affect change within the workplace as well as within schools and communities throughout Seattle and the PNW. Thank you to NOMA|nw for being a valued SDF partner year after year, making meaningful installations like last year’s “A Seat at the Farmer’s Table” in collaboration with Black Star Farmers (pictured above).

Follow NOMA|nw on Instagram

The Blackprint

Former AIA Seattle President Meredith Everest’s The Blackprint podcast acts as a guide for the emerging BIPOC architect and highlights members of our local chapter and community each episode. Give a listen wherever you get your podcasts! Check out the latest episode with Christian Joosse, author of Letters to Ms. 1000 – Words of Wisdom from African American Women Architects.

Listen here

Events in the Community

RYTHM with NOMAS UW
Date: Throughout February
About: NOMAS UW presents “RYTHM,” a series of events that highlight the key themes of music, movement, and freedom of expression. Events include a Case Study Series on the landmark sites of Seattle’s Jackson Street Jazz Trail, a soul food tour through the Central District and construction site visit to Acer House.

“Call to Conscience” – A Black History Month Museum
Date: Throughout February
Location: Columbia City Theater
About: Presented by Rainier Avenue Radio, this month-long celebration of Black history includes immersive installations, performances, and community programs. Events include a LIVE History of Funk performance (Saturday, February 7) and “Preserving Your Legacy” (Monday, February 9), a talk with Phil Armstrong, former Executive Director of Tulsa’s Greenwood Rising Museum and Akuyea Karen Vargas, founder of the Kitsap ERACE Coalition, offering insight into building preservation efforts from the ground up.

Living Voices: Fly for Freedom
Date: Wednesday, February 5, 5:30-6:30pm and 6:30-7:30pm
Location: MOHAI
About: A multimedia program featuring stories and contributions of working women in the WWII aeronautics industry, amplifying the experiences of Black women through the Rosie the Riveters who built planes in Boeing’s factories, the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASPs), the Tuskegee Airmen, and the Double Victory campaign.

America 250: The Verdict Is?
Date: Tuesday, February 10, 7-9pm
Location: MOHAI
About: Join the Black Heritage Society of Washington State and MOHAI as they honor the trailblazing legacies of Washington State Black judges who commit themselves to interpreting the law, and those who continue to advocate for fair and just treatment. Where do we stand in the court of public opinion these 250 years later?

DRT | SIAF | NOMA NW Social Hour
Date: Wednesday, February 11
Location: Mithun
About: Organized quarterly by the AIA Seattle Diversity Roundtable (DRT), the Seattle International Architecture Forum (SIAF), and NOMA|nw, this event is the perfect opportunity to build new connections with great company.

Watch Dark and Tender
Location: Online
About: Shot on Whidbey Island and The Big Island of Hawai’i, short films by The Chronically UnderTouched (CUT) Project are now available to stream or screen. Follow Dark and Tender and the CUT Project on socials.

Back Home: Utopia in Seattle.
Date: On view now through July 26
Location: Wing Luke Museum
About: Back Home: Utopia in Seattle is a vibrant reimagining of ancestral connection and cultural exchange. Curated by Paradice Avenue Souf, a South Seattle collective rooted in Black and Brown solidarity. Featuring work from Zion Thomas, an SDF 2025 volunteer! Read about the exhibition in the South Seattle Emerald and our Design in Community post.